With video: Saline sixth-grader Matthew Palmerton eyes the White House

Matthew Palmerton, 12, is circulating a petition to allow him to campaign for president.

He took inspiration from Dan Gutman’s 1996 novel “The Kid Who Ran for President,” which his teacher read aloud to his fifth-grade class.

“It was interesting that a kid actually ran for president and won,” Matthew said during his first campaign interview, which was conducted at the Pittsfield Township home of his parents, Bob and Mary Palmerton. 

Matthew was soft-spoken and drummed his fingers against the arm of his chair while considering questions.

“I know it was a novel,” he added. “But I’d actually like to bring it to life.”

Matthew e-mailed Gutman to acknowledge the inspiration and ask for advice.

“I am running for the president of the U.S.,” he wrote. “I am 12 years old, which means I will be 15 when, and if, I run. I am currently getting the signatures I need. I have a First Lady, a Vice President and 3 campaign managers.”

“Good luck!” Gutman wrote back. “I hope you win! I'm glad my book inspired you.”

Reminded by his mother that the president must be 35 years old, Matthew replied, “Mom, you’ve got to think outside the box.”

He says he’s now seeking to amend Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States, which stipulates the president’s age requirement. (It also requires the president to have “been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.")

Matthew has contacted the New York Times and The Associated Press, seeking to publicize his campaign. So far his appeal has only been met with automatic responses, he said.

He also has crafted a campaign logo and created a video.

His slogan, “MRP & ME,” consists of his own initials and those of running mate Matthew Eby, a fellow student in Lucas Foster’s class at Heritage. Besides a veep, Matthew has picked out a chief of staff and two Secret Service agents for his administration.

As for his qualifications and experience, Matthew said he has helped in a bottle drive and is working toward a Boy Scouts’ Citizenship in the World merit badge. He belongs to Troop 457.

All-important national security credentials come from his having built a fort in the neighborhood and served as commander, instituting rules and regulations, according to Matthew’s father, Bob.

National transportation solutions are foreshadowed by the hitch Matthew built that allowed him to tow a trailer behind his bicycle.

“He was the talk of the neighborhood, always transporting things around—garbage, snow,” his father said.

Matthew said he’s still debating whether to run as an Independent or a Democrat. “Some people say Independent suits you,” he said.

Matthew receives tutelage from President Barack Obama at Madame Tussaud's wax museum, in New York City. Photo courtesy of the Palmerton family.

Matthew has a two siblings: a twin, Nicole, and an older sister, Sara, 14. Nicole shows some excitement about the campaign.

“I think the older sister pretty much ignores him,” said their father.

Matthew named John F. Kennedy as his favorite president “because he saved a person’s life” in the famous P.T. 109 incident during World War II. “And the fact that he was the first Catholic president” is of interest, even though Matthew isn’t Catholic.

At the time of this interview, Matthew said he had just heard about the tragic earthquake in Haiti “a couple of days ago” and was “devastated.” As President, he would have responded with helicopters that could bring supplies and make rescues, he said.

At his first state dinner in the White House, he would serve his father’s rigatoni in sauce with meatballs, followed by chocolate cake, “to celebrate that I won the election, if I do.”

He acknowledged the campaign has already encountered a setback: the prospective first lady he’d picked out from his class resigned to pursue other interests.

Ronald Ahrens is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.